The Green Bay Packers didn’t have many key departures in free agency this offseason. However, defensive tackle T.J. Slaton left a 330 lb. void when he signed a two-year, $15.1 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Slaton was a crucial part of Green Bay’s run defense. He led defensive tackles in run-stop win rate this past season, and he’s a body type for which they don’t have an in-house replacement.
While Slaton’s departure leaves a void, it could open up the possibility of playing Kenny Clark more at nose tackle, where he’s been more productive and played as his primary position every season before 2023.
Moving Clark also opens up more snaps for Devonte Wyatt, who was one of the most productive interior pass rushers on a per-snap basis last season, ranking 23rd in total sacks and 33rd in total pressures. However, PFF ranked him 93rd in total snaps (41% of snaps) last year.
That may help the pass rush, but it still leaves a void in the run game. Kenny Clark appears to be on the back nine of his career, so he may create another void soon. Michigan’s 331 lb. nose tackle, Kenneth Grant, can fill Slaton’s void and take a bigger role in the future.
Measuring in at 6’3.5” and 331 lbs. at the combine and playing at 345 lbs. throughout the season, Grant is a massive interior defensive lineman who primarily plays nose tackle. However, he played a lot in the A-gap and B-gap in college. Grant is a true junior, started the last two years, and brings a championship pedigree. He was a key piece of Michigan’s dominant defense as a sophomore when he won a championship in the 2023-24 season.
Grant’s get-off is his elite trait. For a guy his size, he’s as quick as they come off the line. That explosion manifested in his testing with a 31” vertical and 1.72 10-yard split, which are great for someone 331 lbs.
Draft experts will bill him as a run stuffer, which is his best role. However, that’s because he’s dominant as a run defender and not because he can’t rush the passer.
As a run defender, when he doesn’t blow by his man immediately, he consistently eats up two blockers because he can’t be blocked one-on-one for long. When he gets in the backfield immediately, he finds the ball carrier. He posted an 87.5 run-defense grade in 2024, which is elite. He would immediately be a primary option for Green Bay on run downs.
Michigan trusted Grant as a pass rusher. He played over 550 pass-rush snaps combined in the last two seasons. He consistently shoots gaps with his burst, already has proven counters, and moves well on stunts.
Grant had eight sacks and 50 pressures over the last two seasons, per PFF, and had a 77.3 pass-rush grade against true pass sets, with his best game coming in Michigan’s stunning upset against rival Ohio State, posting an 85.7 pass-rush grade. None of that will stand out. Still, in combination with his run defense, it’s a great baseline for a player who’s only 21 years old and can move like him.
When it comes to weaknesses, he can occasionally be hesitant or move backward at the snap, preventing him from using his burst and allowing blockers to get on top of him. He also must improve his technique with his hands to gain leverage and play less upright. However, when he gets beat, he raises his hands to get in the passing lanes, and he had five batted balls last season.
Finally, he’s 331 lbs. and can struggle to move side to side and get to the edge to defend plays like outside zone.
Still, none of these are huge concerns for me. It’s mostly stuff that Grant can improve as he receives NFL coaching. Given that he’s still extremely young and has a motor that runs for days, you can expect him to improve in those areas.
Pro Football Focus compares him to B.J. Raji, someone all Packers fans know.
Grant comes with a championship pedigree and a big body in the middle of the defense to dominate run-downs early in his career. Later, he will be able to develop as a pass rusher and become the every-down nose tackle of the future when Kenny moves on.
Currently 22nd on the consensus big board, experts project Grant to go right around where Green Bay picks, making him a perfect fit.
